News, Events & Articles The Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought Artificial Intelligence Biotechnology Computer Science Cybersecurity Data Analytics and Visualization Digital Marketing and Media Mathematics Occupational Therapy Physician Assistant Physics Speech-Language Pathology Straus Center Faculty Wins Research Award Associate Director Dr. Neil Rogachevsky received a $5,000 award from the Faculty Research Fund administered by ’s Provost's Office. The funds will be put towards research and translation for Dr. Rogachevsky's current book project, a collection of core texts from the founding period of Israel along with a critical apparatus. Dr. Tevi Troy Joins the Straus Center In Fall 2023, Dr. Tevi Troy joins the Straus Center as its inaugural Senior Scholar & Impact Office Director. A best-selling presidential historian and political scholar, Dr. Troy has previously served as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in the Bush Administration as well as Deputy Assistant to the President for Public Policy. Studying the Classics in the Summer On June 20 and June 22, 2023, hosted its annual summer seminars for high school students, "Jewish and Western Texts in Conversation." In Search of Jewish Statesmanship Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik’s new book, Providence and Power: Ten Portraits in Jewish Statesmanship, explores models of Jewish leadership throughout history. Ruderman Fellows Visit On June 16, 2023, fellows of at the University of Haifa came to to hear Rabbi Dr. Dov Lerner, Clinical Assistant Professor at , speak about the history of Modern Orthodoxy and ’s role as America’s premier institution for Jewish education. Course Spotlight: Rav Kook In the Spring 2023 semester, Rabbi Shalom Carmy, Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Bible at and renowned scholar of Jewish Thought, taught a course at Yeshiva College on the philosophy of Rav Abraham Isaac Kook. Farewell Seniors! On May 7, 2023, students and faculty of the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought convened for the Straus Scholars Program’s Closing Dinner at Congregation Shearith Israel in New York. Historic UAE Conference On May 3, 2023, the , , and joined with the to host a historic event bridging cultures and religious identities at the in Dubai. The Treasure of Tradition On May 3rd, 2023, Dr. Marc B. Shapiro, who holds the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Chair in Judaic Studies at the University of Scranton, lectured to Straus Center students on the subject of his book Between the Yeshiva World and Modern Orthodoxy: The Life and Works of Rabbi Jehiel Jacob Weinberg (2002), a National Jewish Book Award finalist. Israel's Declaration of Independence on the Air On March 30, 2023, Straus Center Associate Director Dr. Neil Rogachevsky and Dov Zigler joined The Tikvah Podcast to discuss their new book , . Rousseau in Jerusalem On March 26, 2023, Straus Scholar Yaakov Willner (YC ’25) presented a paper, "The Eichmann Trial and Rousseau’s Social Contract" at the eighth annual at the University of Chicago. Studying Zionist Political Thought On March 23, 2023, the Straus Center-sponsored Zionist Political Thought seminar hosted the distinguished Israeli historian Benny Morris for a spirited and provocative virtual conversation about the history and historiography of Israel’s War of Independence. Churchill, Moses and the Secret of Greatness On March 19, 2023, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik delivered the annual Rabbi Allan Mirvis Memorial Lecture at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Center in New York. This year’s lecture, delivered to a packed auditorium, was entitled “Winston’s Moses: The Incredible True Story of Churchill’s Only Essay on a Biblical Leader.” Restoring the American Story On March 19, 2023, at ’s Wilf Campus, the Straus Center, in partnership with the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, convened a historic conference across multiple organizations and faiths, titled “Restoring the American Story.” Rav Kook and the Mystical Origins of Controversy On January 25, 2023, The Straus Center, in partnership with the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program, hosted Dr. Daniel Rynhold, dean and professor of Jewish philosophy at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, and director of the Revel doctoral program. Dr. Rynhold spoke to students about “Heresy and Heretics in the Thought of Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaKohen Kook.” "Jewish Stories are Big Stories" - An Interview with Elliot Kaufman of The Wall Street Journal On January 29, 2022, the Straus Center, in partnership with the Shevet Glaubach Center for Career Strategy and Professional Development, invited letters editor of The Wall Street Journal Elliot Kaufman to talk about his role at the Journal and about how his Jewish identity has shaped his career. Straus Scholars Explore Jewish & Western Heritage in Rome Over winter break, students of the Straus Scholars Program visited Rome, Italy, to experience key places and monuments at the intersection of Jewish history and Western civilization. On Israel's Declaration of Independence On February 2, Straus Center Associate Director Dr. Neil Rogachevsky joined commentator Bill Kristol to discuss how the drafters of Israel’s Declaration of Independence approached core ideas like liberal democracy, religion, and state sovereignty. King Solomon at the Morgan Library During the Fall 2022 semester, students from the Straus Center course “The Wisdom of Solomon: Love, Learning, Leadership” at ’s Stern College for Women visited the Pierpont Morgan Library & Museum in Manhattan to see just how far and wide Solomon’s sapiential legacy has spread in print. A Light Unto the Nation: Exploring the Legacy of Theodor Herzl with Dr. Gil Troy On January 25, 2022, the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought, in partnership with the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program, hosted Dr. Gil Troy, distinguished scholar in North American history at McGill University and scholar of Israeli political thought. Dr. Troy shared insights from his new three-volume collection, Herzl's Zionist Writings. Ivan Provorov Went to a Hockey Game, and a Culture War Broke Out Writing for The Wall Street Journal, Straus Center Impact Officer Tal Fortgang defends NHL player Ivan Provorov's decision not to wear pride colors in the rink, arguing that sincere pluralists should respect Provorov's religiously motivated decision. Straus Scholar Spotlight: Ayelet Brown As a Straus Scholar, Brown is combining her passion for community leadership with rigorous study of the human mind and well-being. She is majoring in psychology and minoring in public health, focusing especially on positive psychology, or the scientific study and application of insights into what helps people flourish. Debating the Meaning of Life On December 6, 2022, the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought, in partnership with the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program, hosted scholar, philosopher and Tikvah Fund dean Dr. Ronen Shoval for an Honors Program lunch seminar entitled “Debating the Meaning of Life, Rambam vs. Buddha.” The Case for Safety in the Synagogue Writing for City Journal, Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern and Dr. Tevi Troy of the Bipartisan Policy Center make the case for armed self-defense in American synagogues. The Presidential Traditions of Hannukah Writing for The Wall Street Journal, Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern and best-selling presidential historian Dr. Tevi Troy investigate why the triumph of Hanukkah continues to inspire American leaders. Look on Our Works, Ye Mighty Writing for Commentary, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik illustrates how Percy Blythe Shelly's Ozymandius is an oddly perfect Hanukkah poem. A Festival of Light for Dark Times Writing for Tablet, Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern shares a moving message penned by Theodore Herzl on the Hanukkah Menorah's rejuvenating role in Jewish History. Natural and Historic Right On December 2, the Straus Center hosted a workshop on the Israeli and American Declarations of Independence in partnership with the Jack Miller Center and Museum. Straus Program Hosts Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum On Shabbat Parshat Veyetze (Dec. 2-3), the Straus Center hosted Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum of Jerusalem in conversation with Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik at Congregation Shearith Israel in New York. ċċċċċ Lessons in Presidential Leadership On November 13, the Straus Center, in partnership with the Shevet Glaubach Center for Career Strategy & Profesional Development hosted best-selling presidential historian Dr. Tevi Troy of the Bipartisan Policy Center in conversation with Dr. Liel Leibovitz of Tablet Magazine. The event, entitled “Lessons in Presidential Leadership,“ brought together students and alumni to learn about the key characteristics of a successful president. Straus Scholar Spotlight: Joshua Shapiro As a Straus Scholar, Josh Shapiro is pursuing a degree in English and is a member of the Tikvah Collegiate Forum, spearheading efforts to help students interested in Jewish and Western philosophy explore the fundamental questions of Judaism in the modern age. Shylock and Kol Nidrei Straus Center Resident Scholar Dr. Shaina Trapedo joins the Take One Daf Yomi Podcast to explain the controversy regarding the status of oaths taken under duress and how this question drives the narrative of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. Along the way, Dr. Trapedo comments on the inclusion of the Kol Nidre prayer in a recent production of the play. Will Israel's Next Government Last Longer than a Container of Hummus? Writing for Mosaic, Straus Center Associate Director Dr. Neil Rogachevsky considers what electoral reforms could bring political stability to the nation. Why Kanye West’s Anti-Semitism Matters Writing for City Journal, Straus Center Program Officer Tal Fortgang calls attention to the deeper implications of Kanye West's recent anti-Semitic remarks. Why I Don't Observe Halloween Writing for First Things, Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern reflects on what it's like as an orthodox Jew to have Halloween for a birthday. Samson and Tractate Nedarim Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern joins the Take One Daf Yomi podcast to explain what the Nazarite Vow is about, why the rabbis opposed it, and how the Bible's most famous Nazirite, Samson, inspired everyone from Thomas Jefferson and Frederick Douglass. The Wedding Canopy in Abu Dhabi Writing for Commentary, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik reflects on the remarkable images of Hasidic Jews and Emirati Arabs dancing together at a Jewish wedding in Abu Dhabi. Learning Empathy through Exile Writing for the Center for Hebraic Thought, Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern illustrates how the biblical commandment to sojourn throughout the Sukkot Festival in a transient dwelling is meant to evoke empathy for the displaced and the dispossessed. The Bones of the Blood Libel After geneticists confirmed that the skeletons of seventeen men, women and children found discarded in a Norwich well are the remains of Jews killed in the course of a twelfth-century anti-Jewish massacre, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik urges scholars not to trivialize the pervasive medieval blood libel as merely a circumstance of the past, but to recognize it as the precursor to modern anti-Semitic slander. The Super Bowl and the Meaning of Sukkot Writing for Tablet, Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern demonstrates how both the flimsy composition of the Sukkah and the irregular career of one NFL player remind us to embrace uncertainty and steel ourselves for change. Humanities on the Internet Writing for Mosaic, Straus Center Associate Director Dr. Neil Rogachevsky weighs the pros and cons of Theory Bro culture and considers what the proliferation of non-academic intellectual platforms online means for the future of liberal arts in America. A Daf Yomi Scout On September 21st, 2022, the Straus Center for Torah & Western Thought in partnership with the Jay & Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program invited literary critic, poet and Wall Street Journal editor Adam Kirsch to share insights from his seven-year study of the Talmud with students. Judaism, Heroism and Faith On September 19, 2022, the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought invited Dr. Liel Leibovitz, editor at large at Tablet, and Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Daniel Feldman to to discuss Jewish ideals of heroism that are embodied by comic book superheroes. On the Knesset Beat On Sep. 14, 2022, the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought and the S. Daniel Abrahams Honors Program hosted Jerusalem Post senior contributing editor Lahav Harkov in conversation with Straus Center Associate Director Dr. Neil Rogachevsky. The Witness of Words Writing for First Things, Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern and Dr. Tevi Troy look to the High Holiday liturgy to understand the gravity and permanence of the written word. Reporting on the Jewish World On September 13, 2022, the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought in partnership with the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program hosted a discussion with Zvika Klein, Jewish world analyst for the Jerusalem Post. Jerusalem's Enduring Symbols Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloevichik joined The Tikvah Podcast to discuss the enduring cultural symbols that help illuminate the role Jerusalem has played in the minds of Jews throughout the ages. The Little Nation That Could Writing for The Wall Street Journal, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik remarks on how a simple Jerusalem train ticket epitomizes the wonderous dream of Theodor Herzl and captures the trajectory of Jewish history. Straus Center Fall 2022 Reading Groups: From Daniel Deronda to the Pages of Tradition As part of the Straus Scholars Program, Straus students participate in weekly reading groups outside the classroom that cover the great texts of the West and Judaism, including Daniel Deronda, Great Essays in American Religion and Tradition. Straus Center Fall 2022 Courses: The Wisdom of Solomon, Rembrandt and AI For fall 2022, the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought is offering numerous courses for Straus Scholars and undergraduate students to study the great texts and traditions of the West and Judaism, including The Wisdom of Solomon: Love, Learning, Leadership, Rashi & Rembrandt, and Ethics in Artificial Intelligence. Two Providential Nations Writing for Commentary, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik reviews Walter Russell Mead's The Arc of a Covenant: The United States, Israel, and the Fate of the Jewish People, arguing that it is not merely that Americans of faith support Israel, but that Israel’s story supports faith. Checking In on Thomas Friedman Writing for Mosaic, Straus Center Associate Director Dr. Neil Rogachevsky looks at New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman's recent analyses on Israel, arguing that the famed commentator is stuck in the past. What the Right Still Has To Learn From Ronald Reagan Writing for Mosaic, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik reviews Matthew Continetti’s The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism, arguing that, while the book seeks to highlight the conservative movement beyond Ronald Regan, it can't escape his legacy. Now a Museum, the Synagogue Was Meticulously Restored... Writing for the Jewish Review of Books, Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern reviews Shul Going: 2500 Years of Impressions and Reflections on Visits to the Synagogue and Synagogues: Marvels of Judaism, which offer radically different pictures of Jewish houses of worship. Meet the 17th of Tammuz, the Perfect Post-COVID Holiday Writing for Tablet, Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern argues that the 17th of Tammuz is the perfect post-COVID holiday. Jewish and Western Texts in Conversation On June 20 and June 23, 2022, the Straus Center hosted its annual summer seminars for high school students, Jewish and Western Texts in Conversation. Held in Manhattan, the respective programs for men and women brought together 38 students to participate in unique interdisciplinary seminars and activities, learn at the collegiate level and engage with the Straus Center’s renowned faculty. Israel's Spiritual Transformation Straus Center Associate Director Dr. Neil Rogachevsky interviewed Ruth Calderon, a former member of the Knesset and the founder of ALMA, for Mosaic, where the two discussed Judaism in the Jewish state, the politics of the Supreme Court, and the possibility of constitutional reform in Israel. Strengthening Jewish Ideas and Identity On June 12, 2022, several Straus Scholars attended the Tikvah Fund’s annual Jewish Leadership Conference (JLC), where they heard from speakers such as journalist Bari Weiss, former Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, MK Simcha Rothman, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Reflections of an Outgoing Straus Scholar: An Interview With Yehuda Goldberg Outgoing Straus Scholar Yehuda Goldberg was named the Yeshiva College valedictorian for the 2021-2022 academic year. News sat down with Goldberg to discuss his time at and how the Straus Center shaped his university and yeshiva experience. Exploring the Nuances of Israeli Culture and Society Straus Scholars closed out the 2021-2022 academic year with a whirlwind trip to Israel, where they met with Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Ambassador Danny Danon, Yossi Klein Halevi, Dr. Moshe Koppel, Matti Friedman, and Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody to discuss the nuances of Israeli society. What We Can Learn From Ruth Writing for The Wall Street Journal, Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern argues that the biblical story of Ruth offers a lesson to help us overcome the division and instability that plague our current political and cultural landscape. Ruth Amid the Alien Corn Writing for First Things, Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern and Dr. Tevi Troy look to the Book of Ruth for a message of hope in these trying times. What Ruth and Lincoln Shared Writing for Tablet's "The Scroll" newsletter, Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern examines the similarities and shared messages between the Book of Ruth and the life of Abraham Lincoln. Immigrants, We Get the Job Done! Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern joined The Koren Podcast to reflect on the Book of Ruth and Jewish approaches toward immigration, refugees, and converts. Wrestling With Moon Knight’s Judaism Writing for Moment Magazine, Straus Center Editorial and Program Officer Sam Gelman wrestles with Moon Knight's representation of Judaism—both on the Disney+ series and in the pages of the Marvel comics. Shakespeare's Talmudic Henry VIII Straus Center Resident Scholar Dr. Shaina Trapedo joined Tablet's Take One podcast to discuss how Shakespeare's Henry VIII provides a Talmudic understanding of questions regarding marriage, childbirth, sin, and other human pursuits. Meet the 2022-2023 Straus Scholars Every year, the Straus Center welcomes a new cohort of Straus Scholars, incoming Yeshiva College and Stern College for Women students who demonstrate high academic achievement, leadership potential, and commitment to studying the great works of the Jewish and Western tradition. This year's group hails from all across the country — from New Jersey to Florida to Illinois — and plans on studying a multitude of topics, including philosophy, biology, and art. Beyond the Hebrew Bible: The Legacy of Psalms On May 3, 2022, the Straus Center welcomed Adam Kirsch, features editor at The Wall Street Journal, for a guest lecture in Dr. Shaina Trapedo’s course, “Tehillim and the Human Condition.” Kirsch’s presentation drew on his illuminating chapter on the literary legacy of King David and Psalms in his 2019 book Who Wants to Be a Jewish Writer? Milton at the Morgan Library On Friday, April 29, 2022, students from the Straus Center's “Milton and Religion” course visited the rare books room at the Morgan Library & Museum in Manhattan. The class examined some highlights from the museum’s noted collection of materials from English poet John Milton, including the earliest first printed edition of Paradise Lost, an extremely rare first American edition of the poem printed in Philadelphia in 1777, and some examples of Milton’s pamphlets on matters such as education and censorship. Debating Great Jewish Writers and Thinkers On Wednesday, April 13, 2022, the Straus Center hosted Dr. Abraham Socher, professor emeritus of Jewish studies and religion at Oberlin College and editor of the Jewish Review of Books, in conversation with Straus Center Clinical Assistant Professor Rabbi Dr. Dov Lerner. The two discussed the feisty exchange between Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, the latter having reviewed Sacks' 2017 book, Not in God's Name, in the pages of Socher's publication. A Straus Scholar Impacts Jewish Life in Italy Straus Scholar Baruch-Lev Kelman, who is currently pursuing a master's at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, embarked on a four-month research trip to the Italian cities of Urbino, Ancona, and Vatican City, where his work aims to spotlight the intellectual and political life of Renaissance Jews in the Marche region of Italy. The Story That Made—and Saved—America Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik joined Honestly to discuss how the themes, symbols, and moral truths of the Exodus story have been at the core of how Americans seeking freedom from tyranny have seen themselves. The Matzah Bakery of Dnipro Writing for Commentary, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik highlights the matzah bakery in Dnipro, Ukraine, which continues to bake the unleavened bread even during the horrors of the Russian invasion, embodying the Passover spirit of resilience, resolution, and hope. Jews, Power, and Politics: A Conversation With Dr. Ruth Wisse On March 29, 2022, the Straus Center hosted Dr. Ruth Wisse in conversation with Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik on "Jews, Power, and Politics," with a focus on Dr. Wisse's recent book, Free as a Jew: A Personal Memoir of National Self-Liberation. Esther, Daniel, and Rejecting Assimilation Writing for Tablet's "The Scroll" newsletter, Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern explores Daniel's unexpected role in the Book of Esther and how he navigated being a minority in an existentially threatening environment. The Fate of Vashti Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern joined Tablet's Take One podcast to discuss the fate and legacy of the Book of Esther's other queen—Vashti. Paradise Lost and the Revolution of Poetry Writing for Tradition, Straus Center Clinical Assistant Professor Rabbi Dr. Dov Lerner explains how John Milton redefined and revolutionized the very genre of epic poetry with Paradise Lost. Rabbi Sacks on Guilt and Shame Cultures Writing for The Lehrhaus, Straus Center Rabbinic Researcher Rabbi Marc Eichenbaum explores the thought of Rabbi Sacks as it relates to guilt and shame culture, arguing that we as a society have become more concerned with our outward perceptions than our inner conscience. Reading Plato’s Republic in America Today On Monday, Feb. 14, Dr. Alex Priou, teaching assistant professor at the Herbst Program for Engineering, Ethics & Society at the University of Colorado, presented the lecture “Reading Plato’s Republic in America Today” to Dr. Neil Rogachevsky’s Great Political Thinker’s class. In his thought-provoking lecture, Dr. Priou presented a compelling case that Plato’s work, relevant as it always is, may be growing more immediate and urgent in our confusing and tumultuous times. Straus Scholar Spotlight: Judah Fortgang As a Straus Scholar, Judah Fortgang is pursuing a degree in political theory and American political economy and is the co-founder and president of ’s Alexander Hamilton Society. Off-campus, Fortange serves as a teaching assistant for the Tikvah Fund’s Tikvah Online Academy (TOA). Networking at the Manhattan Institute On Feb. 10, 2022, a small group of Straus Scholars traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend a panel discussion and networking event hosted by the Manhattan Institute. Titled "Who's Right? Millennials, Gen Z, and the Future of American Conservatism," the event brought together students and young professionals working in politics, policy, and journalism from across Washington, D.C. and New York City and featured a panel discussion with National Review staff writer and Ethics and Public Policy Center visiting fellow Alexandra DeSanctis, Wall Street Journal letters editor Elliot Kaufman, and American Moment president Saurabh Sharma. The panel was moderated by Teddy Kupfer, associate editor of City Journal. Searching for Alexander Hamilton's Jewish Heritage The Straus Center hosted Dr. Andrew Porwancher in conversation with Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik to discuss Dr. Porwancher's book, The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton. The gathering also served as the formal launch event for the Law, Policy, and Government Sector Connections and Partnerships for Success (CAPS) Community, coordinated by the Shevet Glaubach Center for Career Strategy and Professional Development. The Israelization of Judaism or the Judaization of Israel? Writing for Tablet's The Scroll, Straus Center Associate Director Dr. Neil Rogachevsky reviews Simon & Schuster's The Israeli Century, written by Yossi Shain. Straus Scholar Natan Ehrenreich on Antisemitism Straus Scholar Natan Ehrenreich spoke to News about his recent piece on antisemitism in The Wall Street Journal's Future View column. What Threatens American Jews? Writing for The Wall Street Journal's Future View, Straus Scholar Natan Ehrenreich comments on the rise of antisemitism in America. Straus Spring 2022 Courses: The Great Rabbis, Lords, and Philosophers of the West The Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought, in collaboration with Yeshiva College and Stern College for Women, is offering numerous courses for Straus Scholars and undergraduate students to study the great texts and traditions of the West and Judaism. President Berman on Leadership, Shakespeare and the Talmud On Dec. 9, 2021, Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, president of , gave a guest lecture in the Straus Center's Shakespeare and the Talmud course on Hamlet and leadership. The Netanyahu Interview Writing for Mosaic, Straus Center Associate Director Dr. Rogachevsky translates an interview between former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Taub, host of the Shomer Saf podcast. Esther and the Power of Writing Straus Center Resident Scholar Dr. Shaina Trapedo joined Tablet's Take One podcast to discuss why Esther insisted that her story be written down and passed from generation to generation. The Case fo Jewish Guilt Writing for Moment Magazine, Straus Center Editorial and Program Officer Sam Gelman looks at how Whistle, DC Comics' first Jewish superhero in years, turns Jewish guilt into a superpower. Tocqueville & American Exceptionalism On Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, Professor Tom Velk, former chair of the Program in North American Studies and professor of economics at McGill University, presented the lecture "Tocqueville & American Exceptionalism" to Straus Center Associate Director and Assistant Professor Dr. Neil Rogachevsky's Modern Political Thought class. The course is being offered at Yeshiva College in partnership with the Straus Center, and the presentation was part of the Jack Miller Center lecture series. Maimonides: Rationalist or Mystic? On Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, the Straus Center hosted Dr. Elisha Russ-Fishbane, associate professor of Hebrew and Judaic studies at New York University (N), for a lecture on Maimonides and mysticism. The presentation was given in Straus Center Assistant Clinical Professor Rabbi Dr. Dov Lerner’s Maimonides and His Enemies course, which is being offered at Yeshiva College in collaboration with the Straus Center. Tocqueville and Modern Democracy On Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, the Straus Center hosted Dr. Ran Halévi, research director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), for a lecture titled "Tocqueville and Modern Democracy." The lecture was hosted by Straus Center Associate Director and Assistant Professor Dr. Neil Rogachevsky in his Modern Political Thought course, which is being offered at Yeshiva College in partnership with the Straus Center, and was part of the Jack Miller Center lecture series. Straus Scholar Spotlight: Allie Orgen As a Straus Scholar, Allie Orgen is making an impact in the realms of politics and policy. When she is not studying for her Jews of Early America course or volunteering for Teach NJ, Allie serves as a vice president of the Political Action Club and as a campus ambassador for AIPAC. She also recently organized the Bergen County Unite for Israel Parade in response to rising antisemitism in the West. Why America Needs a Sabbatical Year Writing for The Jewish Journal, Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern and Rabbi Dr. Ari Bergmann make the case for how an American sabbatical year could shape the cultural impact of the recently passed infrastructure bill. Debt, Gratitude, and Jewish Values: From Shakespeare's Stage to the Oval Office Writing for Chanuka To-Go, Straus Center Resident Scholar Dr. Shaina Trapedo uses the Book of Daniel to explore how The Merchant of Venice displays both prejudice and a debt of gratitude toward the Jewish tradition. The Flames of Athens and Jerusalem Writing for Commentary, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik looks at the differences between the Olympic torch and the Chanukah candles and what they say about the societies of Athens and Jerusalem. Course Spotlight: Psychology and Jewish Thought For the fall 2021 semester, Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman, clinical assistant professor of Jewish education, is teaching Psychology and Jewish Thought, which is being offered at Stern College for Women in collaboration with the Straus Center. Michel Houellebecq, the Cassandra of Freedom Dr. Neil Rogachevsky, associate director and assistant professor at the Straus Center, recently published a chapter in Brill's Michel Houellebecq, the Cassandra of Freedom: Submission and Decline, a collection of essays on French writer’s 2015 novel, Submission. Straus Staff Accepted to Tikvah and Machon Siach Fellowships Sarah Wapner, Straus Center impact and recruitment officer, has been accepted to the Krauthammer Fellowship, while Sam Gelman, Straus Center communications and program officer, has been accepted into the Machon Siach Graduate Fellowship. David Ben-Gurion and Plato On Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, Straus Center Associate Director and Assistant Professor Dr. Neil Rogachevsky presented the paper "David Ben-Gurion and Plato" at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Political Science Association (NPSA). The paper was presented during the “Plato’s Political Thought” virtual seminar. The 2022 Elections Writing for The Wall Street Journal's Future View, Straus Scholar Natan Ehrenreich comments on what lies ahead for the 2022 midterm elections. Straus Scholar Spotlight: Penina Spearman As a Straus Scholar, Penina Spearman is making a meaningful impact in the realms of Jewish thought, foreign affairs, and public policy. Aside from pursuing a degree in philosophy, with a particular focus on political thought and economic theory, Penina serves as a teacher’s assistant at The Tikvah Fund. She also sits on the American Enterprise Institute's Executive Council and is a member of The Alexander Hamilton Society (AHS) chapter. Penina’s strong involvement in AHS led to her appointment as a delegate to the 2021 Alexander Hamilton Society Student Leadership Conference, which took place in Washington, D.C. Longing for the Homeland Writing for Moment Magazine, Straus Center Editorial and Program Officer Sam Gelman looks at how In the Heights explores the tension between living in the diaspora and longing for the homeland. Faith as Protest: Remembering Rabbi Jonathan Sacks zt”l Straus Center Clinical Assistant Professor Rabbi Dr. Dov Lerner delivered the lecture "Remembering Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt"l" in honor of the late former British Chief Rabbi's first yahrzeit [anniversary of death]. The lecture focused on, in Rabbi Lerner's words, the "one fundamental tenet that opens the door to the rest of his [Rabbi Sacks'] world"—faith as protest. Ambassador Danny Danon Launches Global Leaders Dialogue Series The Straus Center, the Yeshiva College Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program, and the Stern College for Women S. Daniel Abraham Honors Program welcomed Danny Danon to launch his Global Leaders Dialogue Series at , which is part of the ambassador’s greater efforts to build bridges in the world community and develop legal and diplomatic practices to combat the global and domestic surge of anti-Semitism. Begin, Milton and Twain: Straus Center Reading Groups Go Beyond the Classroom As part of the Straus Center's Straus Scholars Program, students participate in weekly reading groups outside the classroom that cover the great texts of the West and Judaism, including the works of Rabbi Norman Lamm, Mark Twain, Menachem Begin, Virginia Woolf, Ramban, John Milton and more. The Meaning of Liberty Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern joined Tablet's Take One podcast to discuss the biblical verse that inspired the Liberty Bell and its impact on America to this day. The Straus Center Continues Partnership With the Jack Miller Center The Straus Center is proud to announce that the Jack Miller Center has renewed its grant with the Center for the upcoming 2021-2022 academic year. The financial support will continue to fund the “Jewish Ideas and American Government” lecture series. Straus Fall 2021 Courses: Sacks, Soloveitchik, Shakespeare, and More The fall 2021 semester is well underway, and the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought, in collaboration with Yeshiva College and Stern College for Women, is offering numerous courses for Straus Scholars and undergraduate students to study the great texts and traditions of the West and Judaism. Using Ancient Stories to Navigate the Contemporary Marketplace Writing for the Jerusalem Post, Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern reviews Michael Eisenberg's The Tree of Life and Prosperity: Ethical, Economic, and Business Principles from Genesis to the 21st Century, which examines the first book of the Bible through the prism of contemporary business practices. Tradition's Rabbi Norman Lamm Memorial Volume Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik and Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern each contributed an essay in Tradition's latest issue, which is dedicated to the late former president Rabbi Norman Lamm. Dante's Hell and Our Humanity Writing for Public Discourse, Straus Center Clinical Assistant Professor Rabbi Dr. Dov Lerner argues that Dante's portrayal of hell is not a penal landscape of scorched sands and steaming pitch, but a display of the writer's concerns for our humanity. Meet the 2021-2022 Straus Scholars Every year, the Straus Center welcomes a new cohort of Straus Scholars, incoming Yeshiva College and Stern College for Women students who demonstrate high academic achievement, leadership potential, and commitment to studying the great works of the Jewish and Western tradition. This year's group hails from all across the country — from New Jersey to Massachusetts to California — and plans on studying a multitude of topics, including political science, biology, and computer science. Was Alexander Hamilton Jewish? The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton, a new book by former Straus Center senior research fellow Andrew Porwancher, looks at Hamilton’s origins and determines that he was, in all likelihood, born and raised Jewish. What Makes a Home? Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern joined Tablet's Take One podcast to discuss America's turn to home improvement shows during the COVID-19 lockdowns and its connection to Sukkot. The Straus Center’s Inaugural High School Summer Program Blends the Traditions and Texts of Judaism and the West On June 24-25, 2021, the Straus Center hosted its inaugural summer seminar for high school students, Jewish and Western Texts in Conversation. Held in Manhattan over the course of two days, 43 students participated in unique interdisciplinary seminars and exclusive tours, learning at the collegiate level and engaging with the Straus Center’s renowned faculty. Painting the Tension at America's Founding Moment Writing for The Wall Street Journal, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik examines John Trumbull’s “Declaration of Independence,” arguing that its central figures — Thomas Jefferson and John Adams — represent two distinct poles of America’s founding. Take the Liberty Bell Back on Tour Writing for Tablet, Straus Center Deputy Director Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern runs through the history of the Liberty Bell’s travels, arguing that putting it back on tour can once again galvanize Americans to bridge our current political fissures. The Straus Scholars Visit Our Nation’s Capital On Memorial Day weekend, the Straus Scholars and Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik visited Washington, D.C. to explore the impact of Biblical ideas on America and its founding. The trip included a tour of the Museum of the Bible and Lincoln Memorial, a private dinner with Dr. Tevi Troy, former deputy secretary of health and human services, and sessions with several American Enterprise Institute scholars. Straus Scholars: Making an Impact Outside the Classroom While the classroom doors may be closed for the summer, Straus Scholars continue to make an impact with internships and research fellowships in the fields of political science, law, philosophy, and Jewish studies, including the Tikvah Fund’s Summer Fellowship, the Heritage Foundation’s Summer Academy and the Kohelet Policy Forum. The Montesquieu of Montreal and the Decline of the American Empire Writing for American Affairs, Straus Center Associate Director Dr. Neil Rogachevsky looks to the films of Montreal filmmaker Denys Arcand to examine the meaning of decline — American and Western — and its possible implications for our time. Course Spotlight: Rawls’ Theory of Justice As the spring semester comes to a close, Straus Center Editorial and Program Officer Sam Gelman sat down with Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig to discuss his Straus Center course, Rawls’ Theory of Justice, which was offered in collaboration with Yeshiva College. American Samson Writing for Tablet, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern documents Samson's impact on the United States since the dawn of the American experiment. Storm-Born Writing for Public Discourse, Straus Center Resident Scholar Rabbi Dr. Dov Lerner examines the exegesis behind the Hebrew Bible's only documented lightning strike, which took place at Mount Sinai. Reading Ruth: Grandfather and Granddaughter Writing for Mosaic, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik celebrates Reading Ruth, a commentary on the Book of Ruth authored by Leon Kass and his granddaughter, Hannah Mandelbaum. The Nature of True Friendship Writing for The Jewish Week, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern reflects on Naomi and Ruth's relationship in the Book of Ruth and what it says about the inarticulable nature of friendship itself. Gleaning the Wisdom of Ruth Writing for The Lehrhaus, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern reviews Reading Ruth, a commentary on the Book of Ruth authored by Leon Kass and his granddaughter, Hannah Mandelbaum. A Manuscript Is Not a Mirror On Wednesday, April 28, the Straus Center hosted Dr. Marc Michael Epstein, the Mattie M. Paschall and Norman Davis Chair of Religion and Visual Culture at Vassar College, for a special guest lecture in the Straus honors course, Jewish Illuminated Manuscripts: Torah as Art in Medieval Ashkenaz. The lecture, “Why a Manuscript is not a Mirror: Scientific Method and the Study of Hebrew Manuscript Illumination,” focused on the range of plausible interpretations available to those researching Jewish illuminated manuscripts. Course Spotlight: Judaism and Economics News sat down with RIETS Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Daniel Feldman to discuss his Straus Center course, Judaism and Economics, which he is teaching at Yeshiva College. Sacrifice and Patriotism: Jewish and Islamic Perspectives On Wednesday, March 10, 2021, the Straus Center hosted Dr. Alexander Orwin, assistant professor of political theory at Louisiana State University, for a lecture titled “Al-Farabi and Maimonides on Self-Sacrifice and Patriotism.” The lecture was hosted by Dr. Neil Rogachevsky, associate director of the Straus Center, and was part of the Jack Miller Center lecture series. Counting the Omer, the Anti-Peloton Writing for Tablet, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern explains why counting the Omer provides an experience that is antithetical to using a Peloton workout bike. The Omer, Israel, and Peloton Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern joined Tablet's Take One Daf Yomi podcast to discuss the Omer and its connections to Israel and the Peloton workout bike. The Triumph of White Nights Writing for the Straus Center's monthly reader Jewish and Western Texts in Conversation, Straus Center Impact and Recruitment Officer Sarah Wapner considers the enduring relevance of Menachem Begin's triumphant memoir, White Nights: The Story of a Prisoner in Russia. Course Spotlight: The Arch of Titus — Between Rome and Jerusalem News sat down with Dr. Steven Fine, the Dean Pinkhos Churgin Professor of Jewish History and founding director of the Center for Israel Studies, to discuss his Straus Center course, The Arch of Titus: Between Rome and Jerusalem. Course Spotlight: Zionist Political Thought — Arguing Zionism News sat down with Tablet Dr. Liel Leibovitz to discuss his Straus Center course, Zionist Political Thought — Arguing Zionism, which he is co-teaching with Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik and Dr. Neil Rogachevsky. The Function of Wine at the Passover Seder Writing for Mosaic, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik explains how the Passover Seder's four cups of wine elevate the holiday. Smitten With Sympathy Writing for the Jewish Review of Books, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern argues that we should not allow misplaced feelings of sympathy toward the Egyptians to cloud the true reasons for Passover’s traditions. The Three Pillars of Jewish Education Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern participated in a virtual panel discussion at the Jewish & Latter-day Saint Academic Dialogue. Dr. Halpern’s talk focused on three pillars of Jewish education: celebration, conversation and repetition. The Dual American Educational Tradition On Sunday, March 3, 2021, the Straus Center hosted an intellectually stimulating and informative lecture by Dr. Rita Koganzon, associate director of the Program on Constitutionalism and Democracy at the University of Virginia, for the Straus Scholars. The lecture, which was part of the Jack Miller Center speaker series, analyzed the American education system and tried to uncover the American “tradition” of disliking school. Against the Written Constitution In this newly translated speech, David Ben-Gurion makes the case against any kind of written formal constitution for the Jewish state. The speech was translated by Straus Center Associate Director Dr. Neil Rogachevsky for Mosaic Magazine. La Santa Esther On Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, Dr. Emily Colbert Cairns, associate professor at Salve Regina University, delivered a lecture titled "'La Santa Esther': Esther Among the Crypto-Jews of the Americas." The event was part of the Crisis and Hope: Voices lecture series and covered material found in Dr. Cairns’ chapter in Esther in America, published by the Straus Center, and her book, Esther in Early Modern Iberia and the Sephardic Diaspora: Queen of the Conversas. The Jew Who Ran Away Writing for Commentary, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik looks back at the film Chariots of Fire, which chronicles the life of the Jewish Olympic gold medalist Harold Abrahams and his Christian counterpart, Eric Liddell. The Rabbit Hunt Straus Center Resident Scholar Dr. Chaya Sima Koenigsberg joined Tablet Magazine's Take One Daf Yomi podcast to discuss the rabbis' love of acronyms and how one particular acronym inspired Jewish artists to illustrate Haggadot with scenes from a rabbit hunt. Vast Personal Forces On Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, the Straus Center welcomed Dr. Seth Jaffe, assistant professor of political science and international affairs at John Cabot University, who presented "Vast Personal Forces: Thucydides, Populism, & the Liberty of the Ancients." Course Spotlight: Belief and Religious Commitment News sat down with Rabbi Shalom Carmy to discuss his Yeshiva College course, Belief and Religious Commitment, which is being offered in collaboration with the Straus Center. Book Launch With Museum of the Bible Esther in America contributors Dr. Erica Brown, Tevi Troy and Liel Leibovitz discussed the volume at its official launch, hosted by the Straus Center and the Museum of the Bible. The Enduring Story of Esther in America Writing for The Jewish Journal, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern explores the theme of identity in the story of Esther, arguing that society can only flourish if it allows others to wear their community loyalties proudly. Cinderella and Esther In an interview with The Jewish Standard, Dr. Shaina Trapedo, adjunct English professor at , discusses how Esther is the anti-Cinderella and reflects on the power of stories. Chained Melody Writing for Tablet, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern argues that the real stars of the Super Bowl are not the players or coaches, but the chain-movers. Esther in the White House In an excerpt from Esther in America for The Algemeiner, Dr. Tevi Troy explores how comparisons between the story of Esther and modern-day politics became a common motif for presidential political commentators. God at the Inauguration Writing for The Wall Street Journal, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern and Dr. Tevi Troy track the history of biblical allusions and quotes in U.S. presidential inaugural speeches. Lincoln's Almost Chosen People Speaking at the 2020 Erasmus Lecture for First Things, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik discussed the covenantal nature of America's founding and, in the words of Lincoln, its "almost chosen people." Reading Esther in Today's America Writing for Newsweek, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern reflects on Esther's legacy, reminding us in these troubled times that it only takes one decent and committed person to save the day. Every Man Under His Vine Writing for JTA, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern suggests which biblical verse President-elect Biden should use in his inauguration speech to unify our fractured nation. "Gather Around and I Will Tell You" On Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, Straus Center Resident Scholar Dr. Chaya Sima Koenigsberg delivered a lecture to the Abraham Arbesfeld Kollel Yom Rishon titled "'Gather Around and I Will Tell You:' Glikl of Hameln and Her Ethical Will," adapted from her Straus Center course at Stern College for Women, Matriarchs and Memoirs. Be the Light On Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, the Straus Center hosted a tour de force talk for undergraduate students by Dr. Erica Brown ’88S, prolific scholar, author, and director of the Mayberg Center for Jewish Education and Leadership at George Washington University, on “What Chanukah Teaches Us About Responsibility.” "A Very Special Episode" Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern joined the Talking Tachlis Podcast to discuss his latest article for Tablet, "Why I Won't Let My Kids Watch That Very Special Christmas Episode." Pesachim and Boundaries Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern joined Tablet's Take One Daf Yomi podcast to discuss boundaries and how respecting clear distinctions and differences makes society more, not less, cohesive. The Dignity of Difference Writing for Tablet, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern explains why he does not let his children watch Christmas-themed television and how doing so preserves the "dignity of difference." Nuremberg, 75 Years After Writing for Commentary, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik reflects on the legacy of the Nuremberg trials, 75 years after they began. Mikdash and Memory The Straus Center is proud to present "Mikdash and Memory: A Tale of Jewish Loving and Longing," a video series examining the timeless importance of Judaism's most sacred site. Led by Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, the series will tell the millennia-long tale of a people’s relations with a holy structure that once stood and lives on in Jewish longing. WATCH HERE ’s&Բ;Henry V and Leadership On Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, Dr. Paul Cantor, the Clifton Waller Barrett Professor of the English Department at the University of Virginia, delivered a lecture on William ’s&Բ;Henry V to the Straus Scholars of the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought, who this year are studying the Torah’s influence on the works of the playwright. Freedom as Creed, Faith as Need Writing for Chanukah To-Go, Straus Center Resident Scholar Rabbi Dov Lerner makes the case for Chanukah as a celebration of, in the words of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, "personal responsibility for the moral-spiritual order." Class Spotlight: Philosophy of Law News sat down with Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig to discuss his fall 2020 course, Philosophy of Law, which is being offered at Yeshiva College and explores the nature, purpose, and merits of law as a concept. Building a Community Through Customs Straus Scholar Yehuda Goldberg joined Tablet's Take One Daf Yomi podcast to discuss Eruvin 101, which focuses on the important role tradition and custom play in building communities. Lessons in Spiritual Mentorship Writing for the Commentator, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern reflects on his spiritual mentorship with the late Rabbi Sacks during the latter's tenure as a visiting professor at . A Leader for All Peoples Writing for The Wall Street Journal, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik focuses on the late Rabbi Sacks' impact outside the Jewish community. The Legacy of Rabbi Sacks Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern joined Detroit's Jewish Hour radio show, hosted by Rabbi Herschel Finman, to discuss the legacy of the late Rabbi Sacks. A Sage With Youthful Vigor Writing for The Jewish Link, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern reflects on Rabbi Sacks’ remarkable ability to balance his elder sageness with his youthfully enthusiastic desire to maximize each and every day of his life. Hiding Behind Lincoln From their humble upbringings to their political bravery, Straus Scholar Jonathan Fenster argues in Compass that Esther and Abraham Lincoln have more in common than one would think. A New Approach to Religious Freedom On Oct. 26, 2020, Dr. Samuel Goldman, associate professor of political science at George Washington University and executive director of the Loeb Institute for Religious Freedom, gave a virtual guest lecture to the students in Dr. Neil Rogachevsky’s Straus Center course, “Enlightenment and its Critics,” exploring the history of religious freedom in America. Judah Ibn Tibbon’s Ethical Will On Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, Dr. S.J. Pearce, an associate professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at New York University, where her teaching and research focus on the intellectual history and literature of Jews, Christians and Muslims in medieval Spain, guest-lectured in Yeshiva College’s Spiritual Autobiographies course. The Wonder of the Abraham Accords Writing for Commentary, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik reflects on the political and biblical significance of the treaty between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Nathan the Wise and Religious Tolerance Writing for The Forward, Straus Scholar Michael Weiner looks to the play Nathan the Wise by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing for guidance after another Islamic terror attack occurred in France over the depiction of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Class Spotlight: Spiritual Autobiographies News sat down with Dr. Ronnie Perelis, Chief Rabbi Dr. Isaac Abraham and Jelena (Rachel) Alcalay Associate Professor of Sephardic Studies at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, and Dr. David Lavinsky, associate professor of English at Yeshiva College, to discuss their Straus Center course, Spiritual Autobiographies. In Defense of Cities Despite the bad name they get from the story of the Tower of Babel, Straus Scholar Yehuda Goldberg argues in The Lehrhaus that these cosmopolitan centers and concrete jungles can recognize and extoll God’s primacy, creating a common conception of good. Humdrum Cheshvan Writing for Tablet, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern makes the case for why Cheshvan — which is the only month on the Hebrew calendar that contains no celebrations, commemorations, or special occasions — is exactly what we need in these tumultuous times. Class Spotlight: The Architecture of Election News sat down with Dr. Joseph Angel, associate professor of Jewish history at Yeshiva College, to discuss his Straus Center course, The Architecture of Election: Temple Architecture in Judaism and Western Thought. It's All in the Details Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern joined Tablet's Take One Daf Yomi podcast to discuss Eruvin 70 and 71, which focuses on the seemingly mundane technicalities of the tractate. Sharansky’s Faith Writing for Commentary, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik reflects on Natan Sharansky's faith, praising the famed human rights activist for capturing the spirit of both King David and the prophet Isaiah. Leave Judge Barrett’s Faith Out of This Writing for The New York Times, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik argues that the attacks against Amy Coney Barrett's faith have no place in the American pluralistic tradition, a tradition that George Washington illustrated in his letter to the Touro Synagogue in Newport. A Former Catholic Dances With the Torah Writing for The Wall Street Journal, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik reminds us that God’s word is the center of Jewish life and that, when all else fails, the Book of Books sustains us. Class Spotlight: The Image and the Idea News sat down with Dr. Jacob Wisse, director of the Museum, to discuss his fall 2020 course, The Image and the Idea, which he is co-teaching with Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik. What Do We Owe the Dead? Writing for JTA News, Straus Scholar Michael Wiener reflects on the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and how Jewish tradition can guide our response. The Straus Center Receives Jack Miller Center Grant The Straus Center is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a grant from the Jack Miller Center, a nonprofit organization that works to ensure that students learn the history and principles at the heart of American political life. The financial support will fund a new guest-lecture series, titled “Jewish Ideas and American Government,” for the 2020-2021 academic year. College Amid Covid Writing for The Wall Street Journal's Future View, Straus Scholar Michael Weiner weighs in on how the shift to online classes has impacted his view on tuition costs. The Fast for the Furious Writing for Tablet, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern explains why Tzom Gedaliah is the observance our angry society desperately needs. Jonah: The Sequels Writing for the Jewish Review of Books, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern examines ancient and modern retellings, Jewish and secular, of the book of Jonah, which is read on the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. Shakespeare or the Bible? On Tuesday, September 1, 2020, the Beren Straus Scholars participated in their first seminar on Shakespeare and the Bible, which explores the text’s influence on the works of playwright William Shakespeare. The Art & Letters of Repentance The Straus Center is proud to present a five-part video series on the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur Machzor. Featuring lectures by Straus Center Resident Scholar Rabbi Dov Lerner, Straus Center Resident Scholar Dr. Chaya Sima Koenigsberg, RIETS Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman, Stern College for Women Adjunct English Professor Dr. Shaina Trapedo, and Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik. WATCH HERE Home Shuling Writing for 's Rosh Hashanah 5781 Torah To-Go, Straus Center Resident Scholar Dr. Chaya Sima Koenigsberg reflects on transitioning from a Rosh Hashanah centered on synagogue service to a Rosh Hashanah centered at home. READ MORE Straus Center Welcomes New Impact and Recruitment Officer The Straus Center is excited to welcome Sarah Wapner as its Impact and Recruitment Officer. Under this new position, she will lead the Center’s Impact and Recruitment Office, which is dedicated to fostering the growth of the Straus Scholars beyond the walls of the classroom. Wishes and Witches in Samuel and Shakespeare On August 30, 2020, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, delivered a seminar, “Wishes and Witches in Samuel and Shakespeare.” The seminar was the first of a series of discussions for the Straus Center’s Wilf Straus Scholars, who, this year, along with the Beren Straus Scholars, will be studying the Bible’s influence on the works of playwright William Shakespeare. The 1620 Project Writing for Commentary, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik traces the Hebrew Bible's influence on America all the way back to 1620, the year the Mayflower set sail for the new world. What Do We Get for Being Good? Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern joined Tablet's Daf Yomi podcast to discuss Eruvin 21 and 22, which cover divine reward, punishment, and personal responsibility. The 2020 Straus Scholars Every year, the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought welcomes a new cohort of Straus Scholars, incoming Yeshiva College and Stern College for Women students who demonstrate high academic achievement, leadership potential, and commitment to studying the works of the Jewish and Western tradition. This year’s group hails from across the country—New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio—and plans on studying a multitude of topics, including political science, biology, and architecture. Cain, Joseph, and the Familial Future Utilizing the philosophy of Rabbi Norman Lamm, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern explores the differences and similarities between the brotherly tales of Cain and Abel and Joseph and his brothers. READ MORE It's in the Gene(alogy) Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern's essay, "It's in the Gene(alogy): Family, Storytelling, and Salvation," was featured in the most recent edition of Conversations, published by the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals. READ MORE Class Spotlight: Malbim & Modernity For the fall 2020 semester, Straus Center Resident Scholar Rabbi Dov Lerner will teach Malbim & Modernity, a course in Jewish history and Jewish philosophy. The class will focus on Malbim, a 19th-century rabbi, philosopher, and playwright, and his reaction to the emancipation of Europe’s Jews. Love Fest Many associate Tu B’Av with love and romance, labeling it the “Jewish Valentine’s Day.” However, as Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern argues, the holiday has so much more to offer, especially in these politically tribal times. Rabbi Shimon Schwab's Kinah Straus Center Resident Scholar Rabbi Dov Lerner analyzes Rabbi Shimon Schwab's kinah for the Holocaust for Yeshivat Har Etzion's video series on kinnot. Piyyut: Poems of a Persecuted People On Monday, July 20, 2020, Straus Center Resident Scholar Dr. Chaya Sima Koenigsberg was a featured lecturer in the Orthodox Union’s Women’s Initiative’s "3 Weeks: Ideas and Inspiration." Shabbat 144 Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern joined Tablet's Daf Yomi podcast to disucss the delicate dance that is the relationship between rabbis and their congregations. The Struggles of Being a Diaspora Jew On July 21, 2020, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern delivered a shiur titled "The Lion, the Pit and the Wardrobe: Daniel, Joseph, Esther and the Struggles of Being a Diaspora Jew" over Facebook Live and YouTube Live, which has since been viewed by over 400 people. Peter Beinart's Wedge Writing for Mosaic, Straus Center Associate Director Dr. Neil Rogachevsky argues that Peter Beinart’s call for a bi-national Jewish and Arab state is less about Israel and more about changing the foreign policy debate in America. The Man Who Willed a State Straus Center Associate Director Dr. Neil Rogachevsky reviews Tom Segev's new biography of David Ben-Gurion, A State at Any Cost, for Mosaic. The Oratorical Legacy of Rabbi Lamm Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik sat down with the Tikvah Podcast to discuss the oratorical skills of Rabbi Lamm, focusing on two of his most impressive sermons: "" and "." The Genius of Rabbi Norman Lamm, z’’l Writing for Commentary, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik looks back at some of the sermons given by Rabbi Norman Lamm. Straus Center Volume Recommended by Tradition Board for Summer Reading David Shatz endorses Books of the People: Revisiting Classic Works of Jewish Thought for Part 2 of Tradition's summer reading list. What Does the Bible Teach Us About Reopening America? Straus Scholar Baruch-Lev Kelman looks to the Bible for guidance on how America should approach its COVID-19 reopening process. Norman Lamm, Harrison Ford, and Humility Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern recounts a humorous exchange between Rabbi Lamm and Star Wars star Harrison Ford and reflects on how it can teach one to be both humble and confident in their abilities. Friendship in the Fields of Moab Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern analyzes the friendship between Ruth and Naomi through the philosophy of C. S. Lewis. How to Cure Loneliness Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern argues that the book of Ruth provides pathways to fight isolation, loneliness, and the other social plagues of the moment. Menachem Begin's Covenantal Zionism Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik offers commentary and insights on the newly translated speech by Menachem Begin, "We Were All Born in Jerusalem," which highlights the former prime minster's differing views on Zionism compared to other early leaders in the movement. "We Were All Born in Jerusalem" Given by Menachem Begin at a commemorative event for the Soviet city of Brisk, which served as a home for 20,000 Jews before they were slaughtered by the Nazis, this newly translated speech (courtesy of Straus Center Associate Director Dr. Neil Rogachevsky) touches on many of ideas that Begin advocated for during his storied political career, including reverence for the Jewish past, Jewish unity and inner courage. A Republic If You Can Keep It Writing for The Imaginative Conservative, Straus Scholar Michael Weiner argues that religion provides more than just salvation. It can also be a major source of social value, providing shared history, institutions, and cultural norms, which integrate us into a moral community. The Not-So-Strange Death of Israel’s Labor Party Writing for American Affairs, Associate Director Dr. Neil Rogachevsky argues that the decline of the Israeli left is much less surprising when examined in the context of the history and ideological tendencies of its very origins. Sermons in Solitude Writing for Commentary, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik ponders how we, as Jews, can be together precisely when we are forbidden from engaging with others. How to Pray in a Plague Writing for Tablet, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern reflects on the act of prayer during this time of crisis. Better Call Saul Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern examines the failures of Saul during the first Biblical quarantine and offers insights into what contemporary leaders can learn from his mistakes. The Exodus, America's Ever-Present Inspiration In his latest piece for The Lehrhaus, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern surveys the various ways the story of Passover has served as a source of inspiration for America. Satan at the Seder? Writing for Tablet, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern looks at the book of Jubilees and the surprising connection it draws between Satan, the Binding of Isaac and the Seder. The Four Tricks of the Seder Writing for The Jewish Review of Books, Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern examines the different levels of deceit and wiliness that God displays in the book of Exodus. Natan Sharansky vs. Bernie Sanders Writing for Commentary, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik tracks the formative years of Natan Sharansky and Bernie Sanders and sheds light on how their experiences shaped their attitudes toward socialist dictators. Stan Lee and The Rav Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern reviews Liel Leibovitz's new biography of Stan Lee — Stan Lee: A Life in Comics — which explores the Jewish roots of superheroes like Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk. Three Medieval Accounts of Exile Straus Scholar Michael Weiner explores the different ways Medieval Jews viewed exile and how each path impacted the theological and psychological mindsets of the Jewish people at the time. Spare Your People a Fourth Election, O Israel Writing for Mosaic Magazine, Straus Center Associate Director Dr. Neil Rogachevsky presents a path for Israel to avoid its fourth election in just over a year. Esther, a Hero for Our Time As anti-Semitism rises in the West, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik argues in The New York Times that Esther is the hero we should look toward for inspiration and guidance. Haman in the Islamic Canon Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern reviews Adam J. Silverstein's Veiling Esther, Unveiling Her Story: The Reception of a Biblical Book in Islamic Lands, which explores how the book of Esther was read, understood, and used in Muslim lands throughout the ages. Exile and Esther Straus Center Senior Program Officer Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern reviews Erica Brown's book on Esther — Esther: Power, Fate, and Fragility in Exile — from Maggid Books for Tradition. Navigating Identity in the Digital Age On Feb. 26, 2020, the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought, in partnership with the Wurzweiler School of Social Work and the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program, hosted Dr. Eli Gottlieb for a presentation on “Identity in the Digital Age.” Dr. Gottlieb, currently a visiting associate professor at George Washington University, previously ran the Mandel Leadership Institute in Jerusalem and is an expert in both philosophy and the psychology of religion. C.S. Lewis Experts Lead Interdisciplinary Discussion On February 20, 2020, Rabbi Shalom Carmy and Rabbi Mark Gottlieb engaged Straus Scholars of the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought in a discussion of C.S. Lewis’ mythic novel Till We Have Faces. The scholars reflected upon the role of mythic literature and on the intersection of reason and tradition in Jewish thought. Rabbi Carmy and Rabbi Gottlieb animated the discussion with ideas drawn from classical mythology and the works of Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein. The visit by these esteemed guest presenters was part of the weekly Straus Scholars seminar which examines the literature of C.S. Lewis in conversation with great works of the Jewish tradition. Lincoln in Jerusalem On Feb. 16, 2020, the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought once again partnered with Beit Avi Chai in Jerusalem for a sold-out event on the impact of the Hebrew Bible on America. What the Bible Taught Lincoln About America Writing for The Wall Street Journal, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik tracks Lincoln's use of the Bible in his presidential speeches and remarks. Politics and the Bible at Pepperdine On Feb. 6, 2020, the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought and the Pepperdine School of Public Policy presented a panel on “The Role of Religion in Politics and the Role of Politics in Religion” celebrating the release of the Straus Center’s best-selling book Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land: The Hebrew Bible in the United States (Toby Press, 2019). Remembering Rembrandt On Jan. 21, 2020, Museum hosted an evening dedicated to exploring “Rembrandt’s Legacy.” The conversation, attended by over 200, was introduced by Dr. Jacob Wisse, director of the museum and associate professor of art history and was moderated by Straus Center director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik. It featured a lecture and a fascinating discussion about the life and art of Rembrandt between philanthropist Thomas Kaplan and Arthur Wheelock Jr., former curator of northern baroque paintings at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., and professor of art history at the University of Maryland, College Park. Kaplan is the owner of the Leiden Collection, one of the largest assemblages of Dutch art in the world. Following a captivating lecture by Rabbi Soloveichik on Rembrandt’s renditions of biblical characters, the panelists discussed the legacy of the beloved artist in commemoration of the 350th anniversary of his death. Torah and Western Thought Across the Pond From Jan. 13 to Jan. 16, 2020, the Straus Scholars of the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought participated in a winter break trip to England, which featured seminars, site visits and exhibition tours centered upon the intersection of Torah and history, art, politics, and philosophy, as well as a seminar with Lord Jonathan Sacks. From Mitzrayim to Manhattan What can the Egyptian exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art teach us about the Jewish people’s exodus from Egypt? Quite a bit, according to Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, director of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at . Religious Identity or Cultural Connection? Writing for Tradition, Straus Scholar Michael Weiner argues that deepening American Orthodox engagement with Israel is not a characteristic of a new religious identity, but rather an embodiment of traditional religious identity that has been carried over from two millennia of Diasporic Jewish life. Dignity in Flames Writing for First Things, Straus Center Resident Scholar Rabbi Dov Lerner remarks on the tension between the pure halakhic utility of the Chanukah candles and their public symbolism. A Kinah in Kislev On Shabbat Parshat Vayeshev, our resident scholar Chaya Sima Koenigsberg delivered a Seudah Shlishit shiur at the Mount Sinai Jewish Center in Washington Heights to a full audience entitled, “A Kinah in Kislev.” Her lecture, which took place on the 23rd day of Kislev, commemorated the murder of the most well-known medieval Jewish woman, Dolce of Worms, who was killed on the 22nd of Kislev in 1197. New Bi-Weekly Seminar The Straus center launched a new bi-weekly seminar for the Beren Campus Straus Scholars led by Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik. The first work being addressed in the seminar is Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik's famous speech Kol Dodi Dofek. The Holy Family On November 20, 2019, Dr. David Shyovitz, Associate Professor in Northwestern University’s History Department, Director of the Crown Family Center for Jewish and Israel Studies and author of A Remembrance of His Wonders: Nature and the Supernatural in Medieval Ashkenaz, addressed Straus Center faculty and the Wilf Campus Straus Scholars in a fascinating lecture that examined the family life and the afterlife in medieval Jewish thought. Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik Speaks at Brigham Young University On November 19, 2019, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik and Senior Advisor to the Provost and Senior Program Officer of the Straus Center Dr. Stu Halpern addressed a warm and welcoming packed house at Brigham Young University, in a celebration of the Center’s best-selling book Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land: The Hebrew Bible in the United States. A New Approach to Zionist Education On November 4, 2019, the Straus Center scholars and students in the Graduate Program In Advanced Talmudic Studies For Women of the Graduate Program (GPATS) had the pleasure of hearing from Gil Troy, the Distinguished Scholar of North American History at McGill University. Be, Become, Bless: Jewish Spirituality Between East and West On October 28th, the Straus Center Scholars Program and GPATS hosted Rabbi Yakov Nagen for a joint lunch and learn. Rabbi Nagen, a graduate of Yeshiva College, RIETS, and the Bernard Revel Graduate School, completed his PhD in Jewish philosophy at Hebrew University and currently teaches Talmud and Kabbalah at the Otniel Yeshiva in Israel. His unique approach draws together traditional Jewish sources with ideas from Eastern religious traditions. Lively Debate on the Media and Religion at The Straus Center On Wednesday, May 22, 2019, the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center For Torah and Western Thought, the B International Center for Law and Religion Studies and the J. Reuben Clark Law Society co-sponsored a panel discussion titled “The Media and Religion: Trends and Challenges.” The event took place at Congregation Shearith Israel Synagogue as part of the conference “What’s Next for Religious Freedom,”&Բ;a two-day series featuring respected scholars and industry leaders participating in sessions including “Anticipating a Landmark Religious Liberty Decision: Are Smith’s Days Numbered?,” “Strategies and Conflicts Over Religious Liberty,” and “Advancing Religious Freedom through Faith-Friendly Workplaces,” among others. Straus Semikha Fellows Culminate Rabbinic Seminar With Visit to Charleston, SC As part of its ongoing study of the role of Judaism and Jews in Early America, the Program on Early America and the Jews at the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought returned to historic Charleston on June 11, 2018, this time with rabbinical students, to explore Jewish Life during the Civil War. A Conversation of Biblical Proportions What could be better than a night at the movies with Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik and John Podhoretz? Especially when the movies are about Moses? In a pre-Shavuot event in a packed auditorium at the Museum, the two men traded pointed observations as they screened film clips, exploring the depiction of Moses on film—and what those depictions say about our times and our culture. Finding Meaning in Modernity On the eve of Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut, Leon Kass, philosopher and bioethicist, and Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik discussed memory, patriotism, Israel, and meaning in an animated dialogue at Congregation Shearith Israel. "The Source of Faith..." Examined Writing for Tradition, Straus Center Affiliated Scholar Rabbi Dr. Aaron Segal explores how and why religious ethics, theology, and the phenomenology of faith figure prominently in Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein's thought while normative epistemology does not. Priestly Predicaments In an essay in Morasha Kehillat Yaakov: Essays in Honour of Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Straus Center Affiliated Scholar Rabbi David Shabtai explores the contrast between the states of tumah and taharah—loosely translated as ritual impurity and purity—according to Maimonides. READ MORE On Faith and Democracy as a New Form of Religion: A Few Tocquevillian Reflections Published in Combining the Spirit of Religion and the Spirit of Liberty: Tocqueville’s Thesis Revisited, this essay, co-authored by Straus Center Resident Scholar Dr. Matthew Holbreich, draws upon and extends the pioneering work of Lucien Jaume on Alexis de Tocqueville's analysis of democracy as a new form of religion. READ MORE In the Valley of the Dry Bones: Lincoln’s Biblical Oratory and the Coming of the Civil War Co-writing for History of Political Thought, Straus Center Resident Scholar Dr. Matthew Holbreich investigates Abraham Lincoln's public use of the Bible—through the use of rhetorical tropes such as covenant, purification, sacrifice, and rebirth—before he became president of the United States. READ MORE God Delivered the Pilgrims—and My People Writing for The Wall Street Journal, Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik reflects on the convergence of Thanksgiving with the first day of Hanukkah. God’s Providence and the United States: A Thanksgiving Reader on Judaism and the American Idea Much has been made in the media of the fact that the American holiday of Thanksgiving occurs this year on the first day of Chanukah. While this has provided much fodder for humorous remarks about "Thanksgivukkah," in fact, the convergence of calendars ought to inspire us to ponder how the Jewish approach to expressing thanks and gratitude to God may have impacted America millennia later. Straus Center Director Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik provides a framework for reflecting on the American holiday and the Jewish ideas that may have inspired it.
